Red tip photinia or Fraser photinia is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that can also be shaped into a tree. Red tip photinia gets its name from the striking red color of its young leaves. It is often planted as a hedge or privacy screen. However, fungal leaf spot caused by the plants growing closely together in hedges makes the plants die out, so it's no longer recommended to plant these shrubs as a hedge.
Red tip photinia needs good air circulation, low humidity, an inch of water weekly given at the base of the plant, and thrives in full sun, although it can tolerate full shade. It tolerates salt spray, drought, and alkaline soil. This plant has a fast growth rate, gaining 1 to 3 feet yearly and growing up to 15 feet tall at maturity. It should be planted at least 5 feet apart in the fall or spring. Its white flowers have an unpleasant odor.
Red tip photinia's scientific name is Photinia x fraseri. It is a cross between Photinia glabra (Japanese photinia) and Photinia serratifolia (Chinese photinia). According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, red tip photinia is toxic to horses. The University of California-Davis lists Photinia species as non-toxic to humans.
Common Name | Red tip photinia, Fraser photinia |
Botanical Name | Photinia x fraseri |
Family | Rosaceae |
Plant Type | Shrub |
Mature Size | 10–15 ft. tall and wide |
Sun Exposure | Full, partial |
Soil Type | Loamy, well-drained |
Soil pH | Slightly acidic, neutral (6.0 to 7.5) |
Bloom Time | Spring |
Flower Color | White |
Hardiness Zones | 7–9 (USDA) |
Native Area | Asia |
Toxicity | Toxic to horses |
Red Tip Photinia Care
Here are the main care requirements for growing a red tip photinia:
- Plant red tip photinia at least five feet apart.
- Let the well-draining soil dry out before watering; water at the base, not overhead.
- Give enough space for air to move through the leaves between each plant.
- Prune at least annually to thin growth and improve airflow.
- Grows best in full sun, although it tolerates shade.
- Fertilize if the soil lacks nutrients.
Warning
Red tip photinia is considered an invasive species in Texas.
Light
Red tip photinia has a broad tolerance range for sunlight exposure. It can even tolerate full shade, though this will limit flowering. In hot climates, this shrub does best when it gets partial shade—especially protection from the hot afternoon sun. In cooler climate zones, it prefers full sun. It is best planted in north- or east-facing locations.
Soil
Red tip photinia prefers loamy, well-drained soil in a planting site with good air movement. Heavy clay soils should be amended with 50 percent compost before planting.
Water
Once established, red tip photinia has a good tolerance for short periods of drought and will thrive with an alternate-week watering schedule. It will do well with about 1 inch of water a week, rainfall, and irrigation combined, especially in the first two years. Water the plant once a week at its base during dry periods, and avoid getting the leaves wet.
Temperature and Humidity
Red tip photinia does well in climate conditions across USDA growing zones 7 to 9, provided it gets good airflow to prevent fungal disease. It does not do well in very wet, humid environments. It can survive in zone 6 when planted in a location sheltered from harsh winds yet has generally good air circulation around the shrub.
Fertilizer
Red tip photinia usually does not require fertilizing unless your soil is very poor. When feeding is needed (based on a soil test), use a slow-release organic fertilizer in the early spring as new growth begins.
Types of Red Tip Photinia
Photinia is derived from the Greek word "photeinos," which means shiny, aptly describing the young plant's leaves. Some of the most popular varieties of red tip photinia include:
- Photinia x fraseri' Red Robin': Red Robin is the most commonly planted cultivar. It grows 9 to 12 feet tall with a similar spread. It's a somewhat compact cultivar that is easy to tame for use in hedges.
- Photinia × fraseri' Little Red Robin': This plant is similar to Red Robin though much smaller, with a height and spread of only 2 to 3 feet.
- Photinia × fraseri' Pink Marble': Pink Marble is a newer cultivar, featuring rose pink young leaves with variegated white margins. It grows 7 to 14 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide.
Pruning
Thin your shrub each year in the winter by removing some stems to the ground to improve air circulation. This will ensure light can hit all parts of the plant.
To train this plant to grow as a tree, choose a central leader and prune away competing shoots. This will gradually transform the plant into a more tree-like shape.
Propagating Red Tip Photinia
Like many woody shrubs, red tip photinia can be propagated by taking semi-hardwood stem cuttings to root and plant in pots in mid to late summer. However, cuttings can be taken anytime before frost arrives. Here's how to do it:
- Cut a 3- to 4-inch stem that includes three growth nodes. Use a sharp knife instead of shears since shears pinch the stem, making it more challenging to take up water.
- Remove the bottom leaves. The stem only needs two leaves at the top.
- Plant the cut end down into a pot of moistened potting mix. Cover the pot loosely with a clear plastic bag, giving it a mock greenhouse environment to encourage rooting.
- Place the pot in a well-lit, warm spot indoors.
- Within weeks, the cuttings will grow roots.
- Plant it outdoors in the spring, gradually acclimating it to outside weather conditions over a few weeks and after the threat of frost has passed.
How to Grow Red Tip Photinia From Seed
Red tip photinia is a hybrid plant that does not "come true" if its seeds are planted. Thus, propagation is always through stem cuttings.
Overwintering
In the northern end of its hardiness range, protect this plant against winter cold. So, for gardeners in zone 7, which extends from New Jersey in the East to northern Texas and up to the western part of the U.S. to Washington State, thickly cover the root crown with a thick layer of dry mulch.
Dry mulch can include leaves, straw, or brushwood. Wrap the individual shoots in burlap, mainly to protect the flowering buds. These safeguards are not necessary for warmer zones.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Red tip photinia is susceptible to fungal diseases when conditions are wet and humid. Entomosporium maculatum fungus is a particular threat and so severe that the plant's landscape use is gradually disappearing in the South. This disease appears as red spots across the leaf surface. If it is not controlled, it can overtake the plant and cause many leaves to drop, sometimes killing the plant.
You can help affected plants recover by keeping the leaves dry and removing diseased foliage. Adding a layer of mulch also benefits the plant. Make sure to remove all diseased leaves and branches from the growing area. You can also apply a systemic fungicide several times in the early spring through the rainy season. Thoroughly treat all leaf and twig surfaces.
Powdery mildew and fireblight are also potential problems. And root rot is possible if the soil is too wet. You also might see leaf scorch, crown gall, and gray mold.
Insects that you might find on this shrub include caterpillars, European fruit-tip moths, mites, and scale insects.
How to Get Red Tip Photinia to Bloom
Bloom Months
Red tip photina typically blooms in April or May.
How Long Does Red Tip Photinia Bloom?
Flowers last about two to three weeks, forming red berries in summer that can last through winter.
What Does Red Tip Photinia Look and Smell Like?
Red tip photinia produces clusters of tiny white or cream-colored, delicate flowers that are pretty to look at but smell unpleasant, similar to a chlorine or ammonia smell. The flowers nearly cover the foliage at the peak of its bloom.
If the flowers are left to bloom, they give way to small red pome fruit or berries that can remain through winter and into the following spring. The berries are a food source for birds.
How to Encourage More Blooms
Flowers are produced on new growth. Ensure the plant gets ample sun and its new buds are protected in the winter. Regular pruning in the winter and fertilizing twice a year will encourage consistent blooming.
Deadheading Red Tip Photinia Flowers
Deadhead red tip photinia to discourage the production of red berries or to eliminate the unpleasant smell of the flowers. Cutting back the stems also spurs more new red leaf production.
Common Problems With Red Tip Photinia
Red tip photinia's serious fungal problems are its main concern, but it still experiences some smaller issues.
Leaves Aren't Red
Two conditions can prevent this shrub from displaying its beautiful red leaves in the spring: not enough sun or cold spring weather that nips the leaf buds. Red tip photinia requires both enough sun and a sheltered location to thrive.
Plants Smell Awful
The flowers on red tip photinia are notorious for their unpleasant odor. To prevent flowering, do rigorous spring pruning, which will stimulate the growth of the beautiful leaves while removing the flower buds.
Shrub Is Too Sparse
Without regular pruning, a red tip photinia can grow quite tall and leggy at the expense of the dense foliage that most people desire. Hard renewal pruning, followed by annual shortening of all stems by a full one-third of their length, will restore a neglected shrub to its best appearance.
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Can you get red tip photinia to grow faster?
Red tip photinia grows fast, approximately 2 to 3 feet per year. You can encourage faster growth by providing a well-balanced fertilizer or compost.
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How can I use this plant in the landscape?
With its beautiful foliage, red tip photinia is often used as a specimen shrub, given its highly visible location in the landscape. It also works well in sheltered but sunny borders and makes a good informal hedge with regular pruning.
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How long does a red tip photinia live?
With occasional restoration pruning, this shrub will live almost indefinitely unless it falls prey to fungal disease.
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My shrub has lost its foliage; can I save it?
A shrub that loses all its foliage is likely a victim of the leaf spot disease known as Entomosporium maculatum. Your shrub may be salvageable through intense and repeated treatment with fungicide, combined with severe pruning down to ground level.